Mumbai Underground: Socially-networked cm

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony of 111 couples who had decided to reconcile after marriage counseling,Laxmi Rao,principal judge of the family court,did not quote legal experts or sociologists. She instead chose to quote a character which she thought everyone could identify with. “I would like to say what Rancho said in 3 Idiots,all izz well.” Urging the crowd to join her,she said,“All of you say with me,all izz well.” She advised the couples to hold each other’s hands every day and say,“All izz well.”

Snub effect

Ram Barot,chairman of BMC’s improvements committee,abruptly adjourned a committee meeting minutes after it was convened. The meeting was adjourned despite the fact that Barot is yet to hold discussions on the contentious policy of recreation grounds and playgrounds and that the previous meeting was held well over two months ago. The reason: In May,the BJP corporator had planned a visit to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse while the issue of its lease renewal was raising hackles in political circles. BMC had declined to send an official from the administration to accompany Barot. Barot said,“This is an insult to the improvements committee chairman and I am adjourning this meeting.”

Yes,no,maybe

Even as the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro was cleared by the Union Cabinet Thursday,there was confusion among MMRDA officials on the day of the meeting,which was held in Delhi. Senior MMRDA officials first sent a text message to reporters around 8.30 pm saying the project had received Cabinet approval. However,later there were rumours that the meeting did not happen. Journalists called MMRDA officials again. However,this only left the officials more confused. Soon,there was another message saying the officials were still unable to confirm the news. Finally,around 10.30 pm,a message said MMRDA had received confirmation about the project being cleared.

Closest case

Even as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited Mumbai last week and spent time with his party colleagues,it was difficult to gauge as to which state leader he considered his close aide. The two seniormost BJP leaders in the state,Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde,were competing with each other to display their loyalty to Modi,overtly praising his work in Gujarat. Modi,however,listened without returning the compliments.